Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Justice Secretary and ex Levy & MacRae lawyer, is apparently so scared by the rising tide of public ire surrounding his and his colleagues apparent cover up of the Hollie Greig scandal, that he has proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which is going through the Scottish Parliament at the moment.

The amendments would help stop people “stalking” or “harassing” their “victims” by text or online – strangely enough the exact charges leveled at Robert Green and the UK Column as we have been attempting to shed light on the apparent perversions of the course of justice by Grampian Police, the Procurator Fiscal’s office, Elish Angiolini and Mr MacAskill himself.

At present, the only charge which the Scottish authorities can level in such a case is Breach Of The Peace, by coincidence the precise charge leveled at Robert Green last weekend following his arrest.

The powers provided under the new legislation would allow Scottish prosecutors to go after people campaigning using the internet, including email and websites such as Facebook.

Mr MacAskill said, “Stalking can be a deeply frightening crime for victims.”

Poor Kenny. Feeling the pressure are we?

Mr MacAskill is not the only politician attempting to attack free speech in this way. A source has alleged to the UK Column that David Cameron has stated that should he become Prime Minister, he will legislate to prevent campaigners from asking difficult questions on public forums.

IF THIS IS WHAT CAMERON IS PLANNING THEN IT NEEDS ADVERTISING WELL ON THE INTERNET HE IS OBVIOUSLY PLANNING TO COVER STUFF UP "IF" HE GETS IN, WHICH IN THIS CASE HE MAY NOT. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD VOICE THIS AS THIS COULD BE LOADS OF LOST VOTES!!!!

NOTICED THE MCCANNS HAVE JUMPED ON HIS BANDWAGON NOW THEY KNOW THEIR BEST FRIEND GORDY IS ON HIS WAY OUT, WHO'S TO SAY CAMERON WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!

No one can gag the Internet because no one can police the Internet. It's already been tried in various ways and in many countries, but without any real success except in repressive regimes where they can actually deny any Internet access to ordinary people at all. Forums and blogs will always exist and people will always give their opinions; if one website closes down another one (or two) open. Sites can be hosted anywhere in the world, effectively putting them outside local jurisdiction.

Having said that, it's up to individual Internet users to act sensibly and fairly and show some restraint, IMO. Some self-policing by all Internet users will go a long way towards fewer attempts at interference by those in authority. I include newspaper websites in that, especially those who employ journalists who write hate-filled, xenophobic articles against individuals and organisations.

I think MPs have been put off freedom of speech by the recent revelations re abuse of the expenses system. No doubt they would have preferred Jo Public to remain in blissful ignorance of the fact that they were subsidising their duck houses and moat cleaning and even paying for Jacqui Smith's husbands pornography.